My daughters Sony Cyber-Shot had the same trouble and I read that many times it is caused by foreign matter getting in the lens gearing. 1st suggestion was to hold the camera firmly in one hand and hit one side into the palm of your other hand. Do the same with the bottom, other side and top. Also spray a jet of air into where the concentric lens parts rotate when it opens. Use some judgment, do not hit on a hard surface or spray directly into the glass lens itself, or try to force any movement.

By combining these actions repeatedly I was able to get the camera to first open up and then zoom properly, just as other Sony customers had, Yea ! I then remembered that she was at the beach the day before so when I gave it back to her I guessed that she dropped it in the sand. She had of course.

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Quick turnoff is normally a symptom of low battery power. Make sure that you have fresh/charged batteries in the camera. If fresh power doesn't solve the problem you will need professional service on the camera.

If your camera is still under warranty, the best thing you can dois to take it to the nearest official repair shop and Olympus Digital Cameras shouldfix it for free.

If your camera is out of warranty, or if Olympus refuses to repairit for free (happens sometimes if for example they suspect the camera has not been treated properly) you can try some ofthe methods listed here to repair it yourself. These simple methodshave helped a lot of people fix their cameras.

Before trying any of the suggestions, make sure your Olympus Digital Cameras has fresh batteries and it is in recording mode.

1) Remove the batteries from the camera, wait for a couple of minutes,then put them back in and turn the camera on.

2) Try compressed air. With a fine tip blow off gun and drycompressed air (20 lbs) set the tip between the lens turret and thecamera body and turn on the air while moving the tip around the lens.It should remove all dust and sand. Turn the camera on and it shouldfunction fine.

3) Another method is to tap the padded USB cover part on a hard surface, for example, a desk. It sounds so simple, but veryoften in works.

4) Try forcing the camera lens:

Turn off the camera. Place it on the back with the lens facing up and take a look at the spacing between the lens and the lens housing. If you notice that the gap is not even all the way around the lens, the problem should be easy to fix. This type of a problem usually occurs if the camera was dropped while the lens was extended.

Simply - VERY GENTLY - press down the lens on the side where the gap is the biggest. You should hear a "click" as it pops back into place. Try powering the camera back on.

If the lens doesn't extend at all or it extends, and then retracts again, do the following. Turn the camera off. Take the camera in one hand and with the other gently take one part of the lens and gently move it round in a circular movement. Do so with both sections of the lens. You will hear a "click" as it pops back in place. Power the camera on.

Another version of this fix would be to pull and twist on the largest ring of the lens while turning the camera on. Listen for a "click". If at first the focus seems to be off, turn the camera on and off and take lots of pictures, close ups and distance. Focus should slowly start improving.

5) If that doesn't work, there is an online guide for dismantling Olympus Digital Cameras and fixing the E18 error. (NOTE: Try this only if your camera is no longer under warranty!)It is a great guide with pictures and it can be found here.

There are 2 other guides, one Bulgarian and one Estonian with the take apart procedure for Canon cameras.They are not in english but have a lot of pictures which help with the process.

The lens can and will make some random noises as its automatic focus and lighting adjustments are being readjusted for you. If you are scared it is something else, try going to the store and trying out the display model. See if it acts the same way.